Dttndas dick



(N0'M0de1.)

D. DICK.

PROTECTED MENTHOL GONE. 4

No. 344,949. Patented July 6, 1886,

"N. PETERS. FholwLilhngnphnn Wnshmglon n c Units Smarts ATENT PROTECTED MENTHOL CONE.

SPE-CIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,949, dated July 6, 1886.

(No model.)

To all 'whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DUNDAS DICK, of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, and a citizen of the United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Protecting Menthol Cones or Pencils and Analogous Articles from Deterioration on account of Evaporation, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming partof the same,in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a menthol cone secured to the standard in the ordinary manner. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the cover intended and adapted to be placed over said cone and upon the standard aforesaid. Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the cone and its inclosingcase. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, except that it represents the cone protected byafilm of gelatine. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the same addition; and Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 4, except that a small portion of the upper part of the film is removed.

Menthol pencils or cones, the use of which has become so general within a few years, are very volatile, and when put up in wooden boxes, as is preferable and desirable, unless used very soon thereafter, a slight rise in temperature will cause the vaporization of a portion of the menthol, and said vapor finds its Way out through the pores of the wood, or between the standard and cover, and in a short time so much of the menthol has been thus wasted that the cone is too imperfect to be salable. To prevent this loss and waste is the object of my present invention, in attaining which object many points must be considered in order to provide means for preventing said waste which shall be practicable and at the same time inexpensive. In the first place, the device employed must be impervious to air or it is of course useless. It should fit closely, for as the cone should preferably be first placed and secured upon the standard, it is not practicable to make the envelope so as to cover the cone entirely, and then place it on the standard, as that would necessitate removing it from its seat in order to take off the envelope,which to the consumer would be objectionable. lhere must therefore be a joint, and if the cover fits too loosely vaporized menthol will find its way out at said joint, while if the envelopefits closely no vapor can form. It should be elastic, as the menthol expands with the 5 5 heat, and would therefore rupture the envelope were that inelastic, and it should be readily removable by the purchaser when he desires to use the cone. All these conditions are met in an envelope of flexible material applied as 60 hereinafter described, and as shown in the drawings, in which A is the standard or base of the box or case, B is the cover of said box,

0 is the menthol cone itself, and D is the gelatine envelope. 6 5

In applying this device I first preferably place a thin disk of gelatine upon the standard, causing said disk to cover the bottom and extend to the top of the walls of the slight recess, which is usually formed in the standard 0 to receive the cone, though this disk may be dispensed with, the main object of myinvention being to cover the otherwise fully exposed portions of the cone. Then, having formed the menthol cone, I seat it upon said disk or 7 5 standard, usually employing a slight degree of heat, that the menthol and gelatine may be firmly attached to the standard. Now, having prepared a gelatine solution of such consistency that it will retain the character of flexi- 8o bility, which may be done by using two parts readily understand the requisite ingredients and proportions-I dip the cone in said solution far enough to have the gelatine entirely o coverv the exposed surface of the cone, and preferably extend a little over the outer edge of the wall of the recess before referred to,

or the standard itself, in case there is no recess.

It may then have the cover B placed over it 5 and screwed down onto standard A, and be ready for market. Such envelope will be found to preserve the menthol substantially intact, even under exposure to quite a high temperature and for apractically unlimited I00 period. When about to be used, the envelope may be readily removed by being out or torn away, and it presents the further advantage that it may be removed a little at a time, as

shown in Fig. 6, and the remainder be left to protect the cone even after its use is begun by the consumer. At the same time it is economical, cleanly, and otherwise unobjectionable to purchasers. Of course said envelope may be applied by first molding the gelatine capsule in the desired form and then placing it over the cone, having slightly heated the lower edge, that it may make a tight joint; but such method I do not consider in any way a departure from my invention.

WVhat I claim' as my inventiomand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, a menthol cone covered by a close-fitting gelatine envel- 15 ope and inclosed in a box or case, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

DUN DAS DICK.

Witnesses:

A. G. N. VERMILYA, A. S. FITCH. 

